Part 31 (2/2)

They held their breath as they waited to hear it fall tinkling beyond on the pavement; but they listened in vain, for the siht, Mas' Don! Here goes!” said Jem, and he lowered the rope to its full extent

”Hadn't I better go first, and try the rope, Jeht break, and then ould your o; and, as I said afore, if it bears me, it'll bear you”

”But, if it breaks, what shall I say to little Sally?”

”Well, I wouldn't go near her if I was you, Mas' Don She htn't take on, and that wouldn't be nice Hist! What's that?”

”Can't hear anything, Jem”

”More can I Here, shake hands, lad, case I has a tuing to his hand

”What! Afterthe rope! Oh, come, Mas' Don, where's your pluck?

Now then, I'ive three jerks at the line, and then hold it steady Here goes--once to be ready, twice to be steady, three times to be--off!”

Don's heart felt in his htly, and let hilide down the steep tiled slope, till he reached the edge over the gutter; and then, as he disappeared, dissolving--so it seeular pain at the chest

He grasped the rope, though, as he sat astride at the lower edge of the opening; and the loosely twisted hemp seemed to palpitate and quiver as if it were one of Je to his hands

Then all at once the rope became slack, as if the tension had been removed, and Don turned faint with horror

”It's broken!” he panted; and he strained over as far as he could without falling to hear the dull thud of his cohts fly fast, and in acrushed below, picked up, and had borne the news to his little wife

But before he had gone any further, the rope was drawn tight once more, and as he held it, there came to thrill his nerves three distinct jerks

”It's all right!” he panted; and grasped the rope with both hands ”Now then,” he thought, ”it only wants a little courage, and I can slide down and join hiood deal of resolution to ht had unwound the rope; suppose it should break; suppose--”

”Oh, what a coward I a free, he lay upon his face for a lide through his hands

It was very easy work down that slope, only that elbows and hands suffered, and sundry sounds suggested that waistcoat buttons were being torn off But that was notrifles; and aistcoat buttons to liberty?

Another e, and he was about to atte beforehand, that as soon as he hung clear of the eaves, he should begin to turn slowly round

”Now for it,” he said; and he was about to descend perpendicularly, when the rope was suddenly jerked violently

There was a loud ejaculation, and Je

”No, no, Mas' Don Back! Back! Don't co and noise of a terrible struggle far below